I think I'll start a maintenance log for my bicycles to help me keep track of what I've done, how much it cost, maybe to track how long parts last, probably to give me an idea of what I should do next, and so on. I realize I may be the only person on the planet who owns and rides several bikes who doesn't already do that. There's probably a subset of bicycle bloggers who post their maintenance logs on their blogs. There's probably a subset of them whose blog is just their maintenance log. Or, their ride log plus their maintenance log. Which does bring up some pressing questions: should the log be electronic, or in a spiral notebook? If electronic, with pictures, for future reference? If electronic, with pictures, why not post it on the blog? Why not have multiple people all posting their maintenance items to one blog, for comparison, encouragement, even competition? Or is bicycle maintenance too personal, too revealing, too quirky, to get that sort of public exposure? To expose your own maintenance quirks to public evaluation? Or, if it's in a spiral notebook, are there other considerations? What if I lose the notebook with months worth of log information? Is it wrong to kill trees to log bicycle maintenance tasks?No need to overthink it I guess. Just do it. The next time I oil the chain, replace a part, or adjust something, I'm going to record that somewhere. In a spreadsheet. Or a spiral notebook. Haven't decided yet. Get up. Go ride.

The maintenance log for this MUP-cart would be simpler than either the lambo or a bicycle: Jan 1: fixed squeaky/wobbly wheel. March 1: fixed squeaky/wobbly wheel. June 1: fixed squeaky/wobbly wheel. A low-maintenance, safe commuting alternative!

Ooh -- spiral notebook vs. electronic-with-pictures is a tough choice. One is visceral -- there's something about actually writing things down that makes me more likely to remember them -- but the other is just plain cool.

Maybe both? As they say, 'Nothing succeeds like excess...' ;)

BTW, I also own and ride several bikes, and I don't keep a maintenance log. I wonder if there's a difference between the general maintenance-logging tendencies of folks whose primarily motivation for cycling is the simple love of the way it feels vs folks who ride for a sense of accomplishment.

I bet that even if logs exist in about equal numbers, they're very different kinds of logs -- kind of like my 'training' (ha!) log says things like, 'Hot as Christmas in Sydney' and 'Fun lunch ride! WOOOOOOOO!' but not things like '10x 30 second intervals' or ... um ... whatever else someone who actually applies a scientific approach to conditioning and training might write :) To be fair, I do mention intervals once, in passing: 'Got some intervals in.'

Allow me to summarize: we don't need no stinkin logs. Ride until it fails. If it breaks, fix it. If it sticks and it should not, put some lube on it. If it does not stick and it should, put some duct tape on it. If it's really loose and you can't remember it being that loose before, consider the possibility of tightening it some time. That about covers it I guess.

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Let's Just Ride

I commute by bicycle in Phoenix, Arizona, a metropolis suited to riding bicycles of all types, with weather, mountains, roads, canals, and paths to keep me forever spinning. My favorite bike tools are an open mind, creative engagement, curiosity, compassion, common ground, and the search for knowledge.

Email feedback, corrections, or random thoughts to gmail : johnromeoalpha . Or leave a comment, they are always appreciated.

Tarik Saleh Bike Club Webstore and such
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[image: Tarik Saleh Bike Club has a webstore now. In stock with caps
patches and pins.]
Yo! I got Tarik Saleh Bike Club caps, pins and patches in stock and ...